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Chapter Text

In the town of Axel, there lived a former Shut-in-Neet and current adventurer who was hoping that things were getting better in his life. He remembered taking down several generals of the Devil King such as Beldia, Hans and Sylvia. Dying over and over again and later coming back to life in order to succeed in these feats. Yet despite all of that... things would always backfire.

His name was Kazuma Satou. As he sat at the rickety table of the Dusty Tusk tavern, nursing a lukewarm mug of ale and contemplating the series of unfortunate events that had led him and his party into yet another predicament.

"Ah, debt," Kazuma began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The gift that keeps on giving. Let me tell you a little story about how my illustrious companions and I ended up in this mess once more."

FLASHBACK

Kazuma and his companions, Aqua, the useless goddess; Megumin, the explosion-obsessed archwizard; and Darkness, the noble knight with a penchant for masochism, stood triumphant after supposedly completing a quest. However, their victory celebrations were cut short when the bill arrived.

"Oh, we're out of funds, Kazuma!" Aqua exclaimed, her eyes wide with panic.

"Of course we are," Kazuma muttered, rolling his eyes. "Because spending all our money on useless trinkets and lavish meals is definitely the path to financial stability."

Megumin, her face flushed with embarrassment, sheepishly admitted, "I may have splurged a little on spell components for my explosion magic..."

"And I may have accidentally destroyed half the walls of the town with it." she added as an afterthought.

Darkness, ever the masochistic knight, chimed in with, "I was hoping to be hit by the monster's attacks more, so I let it pummel me a bit longer than necessary."

"Great," Kazuma sighed, rubbing his temples in anger. "So now we're broke, indebted to the town, and one step away from being homeless. Again!"

END FLASHBACK

"Now here we are," Kazuma continued, gesturing to his surroundings. "Back at square one, searching for any quest that promises a decent paycheck to dig us out of this hole."

While drinking the remnants of his drink, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness engaged in their usual antics nearby trying to find a suitable quest.

Just as Kazuma was about to voice his boredom, Megumin's voice echoed through the tavern, startling patrons and making Kazuma spill his drink. "Kazuma! Look what I found!" she exclaimed, waving a crumpled piece of parchment in the air.

Kazuma blinked, taking the parchment and smoothing it out. "What's got your wand in a twist now, Megumin? Found anything clever for us to do?" He asked, scanning the words.

"You can say that again! It's a quest of epic proportions, Kazuma!" Megumin exclaimed, her voice crackling with excitement.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite having some doubts. He took the parchment from Megumin and scanned its contents.

"Hmm... 'The Mask of the Dark Earth,'" he read aloud. "An evil entity lurking in the forest, capable of latching onto people's faces and turning them into rampaging monsters. The reward is over 20,000 Eris."

Aqua leaned over, her eyes widened in delight. "That sounds like an easy quest! We just have to find the mask and destroy it, right?"

Megumin nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! And what better opportunity for me to unleash my explosion magic and save the day?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Hold on, let me get this straight. We're supposed to believe that a flying mask is causing trouble? Sounds like a load of—"

"Kazuma, you always ruin the fun!" Megumin interrupted him, annoyed.

"Megumin's right." Aqua followed while placing her hands on her hips and smiling confidently. "We find this mask, we destroy it and money comes back to us! Simple as that!"

Meanwhile Darkness's face flushed with anticipation, spoke up. "I... I just want to say that should that mask latch onto my face and make me a dangerous threat... please, I beg all of you..."

She paused as her cheeks started to become red and feeling aroused.

"...Use any means necessary to stop me. Strike me down as much as you can. Grrh... just the thought alone of being possessed by such an evil artifact! Mrrhm...!"

Kazuma rolled his eyes like usual and narrowed his eyes showing clear vibes of sarcasm.
"Of course you do. Just like that time with Vanir, right?"

Darkness blushed furiously, but nodded eagerly nonetheless.

With a resigned sigh, Kazuma stood up from the table. "Alright, let's go hunt down this ridiculous mask. The paycheck is fair, and it shouldn't be too hard to handle."

And with that, the four adventurers gathered their gear and headed towards the forest, ready to face this seemingly "easy" quest.

As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the forest floor, Kazuma and his companions ventured forth, their footsteps echoing through the dense foliage.

"This forest gives me the creeps. Why did it say that we had to wait until it was night!?" Aqua muttered while feeling terrorized.

"Maybe because it's an artifact that only activates at this time period? It honestly makes sense." Kazuma replied.

This led to Aqua clutch onto his sleeve followed by him shaking her off with a sigh. "Aqua, you're supposed to be the goddess here. Can't you at least pretend to be brave?"

"Well excuse me for not wanting to get eaten by forest monsters!" Aqua retorted.

Megumin, ever the eager spellcaster, bounded ahead, her staff held aloft like a beacon of destruction. "Fear not, Aqua! With my explosion magic, we'll make quick work of any monsters that dare to cross our path!"

Kazuma narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "And cause half the forest to go up in flames in the process. And also losing our key to destroy the mask. Didn't you want to have the honors?"

Megumin stuttered a little as she knew Kazuma had a point. "Right..." She said.

Darkness trailed behind the group, her eyes darting nervously from tree to tree. "I can't wait to face the mask," she mumbled, a shiver of anticipation running down her spine.

"The quest said that it can fly, it's very fast and hard to catch before it begins to find a host to control. I can't wait to fight it...!" She added while blushing.

"I have a feeling that she's more looking forward to get brainwashed rather than actually helping in destroying it, isn't she?" Kazuma said in his thoughts while looking annoyed.

As they continued their trek, the forest grew eerily quiet, the only sound the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Kazuma's senses were on high alert, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword as they pressed deeper into the heart of darkness.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down Kazuma's spine. He glanced nervously at his companions, who were now frozen in place, their eyes wide with fear.

"Did you hear that?" Megumin whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kazuma nodded grimly, his heart pounding in his chest. "Stay close," he muttered, leading the group forward with caution.

But their progress was halted once again when Darkness, overcome with curiosity, decided to investigate a strange-looking plant at the side of the path. Before anyone could stop her, she reached out to touch it, only to recoil in horror and cause her to stumble backward with a startled cry. Before anyone could react, Megumin's voice rang out in alarm.

"It's the mask! So it's real!"

The mask had finally shown up. It had the appearance of a golden mask with darker shades around the eyes, a red glowing aura, a skinny circle at the bottom middle for its mouth and holes for the eyes. Panic seized the group as the mask lunged toward Darkness, its tendrils reaching out with malicious intent.

Without hesitation, Kazuma sprang into action, his mind racing as he desperately searched for a solution. "Create Water!" he shouted, thrusting his hand forward with all his might.

A jet of pure, clean water erupted from Kazuma's palm, hurtling toward the mask with surprising force. The water barely affected the mask, but it was enough to momentarily stop its advance, causing it to react in confusion.

Megumin blinked in surprise at Kazuma's sudden display of magic. "Water magic? Of all things you could have done?"

"Hey, I had to act fast, okay!? I didn't have time to think properly!" Kazuma countered in frustration.

Their brief exchange was cut short as the mask, sensing an opportunity to escape, shot off into the dark of the forest, leaving the group in its wake.

Aqua, her temper flaring, clenched her fists in frustration. "That thing is getting away! We have to catch it!"

Without hesitation, she dashed forward, her blue robes billowing behind her as she chased after the retreating mask. Kazuma and the others followed suit as they ran through the forest and pursued their elusive quarry. They raced through the trees, branches whipping past them in a blur, Kazuma couldn't help but marvel at the absurdity of their situation. Here they were, chasing after a malevolent mask through a dark and dangerous forest, all in the name of adventure and a hefty paycheck.

"So much for the ''easy" quest...!" Kazuma muttered in anger.

The forest echoed with the pounding of footsteps as Kazuma and his companions kept running after the fleeing mask, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they pushed themselves to their limits. But despite their best efforts, the mask seemed to slip further and further out of reach, disappearing into the dark with each passing moment.

Finally, they came to a halt, panting and weary, as they realized they had lost sight of their quarry. Aqua, frustration written across her features, was the first to voice her discontent.

"This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with petulance. "I thought this was supposed to be a simple quest! Now we're stuck out here in the middle of nowhere, chasing after some stupid mask!"

Kazuma gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. "Aqua, will you stop complaining for once? We're in this together, remember? We're not gonna throw in a towel that easily. We just have to find that mask before it reaches the town."

But Aqua was having none of it, her frustration boiling over. "I don't care about the stupid mask! I just want the reward! Why does everything have to be so difficult?"

Kazuma sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Look, I get it. But we can't let our greed get the better of us. We have a job to do, and we'll find a way to get it done, no matter what."

His words seemed to have little effect on Aqua, who continued to sulk in silence. With a resigned shake of his head, Kazuma turned his attention to the rest of the group, determined to keep their spirits up despite the setback.

"Alright, guess we need to search the area and see where it went. I know this might be just as hard as when you have to find and kill a mosquito but what can we do about it?" He said.

Megumin would only smile confidently. "Don't you worry, Kazuma. Once the mask shows up again, I'll blow it into smithereens!"

"Sure... just don't hit us as well."

"I wouldn't mind that." Darkness added.

Later the group combed through the underbrush and scanned the treetops, their eyes peeled for any sign of the elusive mask. Hours passed, and still, they found no trace of their quarry.

Kazuma was now starting to relate to Aqua's frustration as it grew with each passing moment, his patience wearing thin as they searched fruitlessly through the dense foliage. Aqua's complaints couldn't stop filling the noise through the forest, as she was now cursing the day they ever took on this quest.

But just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Megumin's sharp eyes caught sight of something ominous in the distance. She pointed ahead, her voice filled with urgency. "Look! Over there!"

Following her gaze, the group spotted a farm on the edge of the forest, smoke billowing from the chimney and an eerie glow emanating from within.

"That's probably where the mask headed to. Ahh, thank goodness... for a moment I thought this was going to take the whole damn night. Ok then, let's make up a plan and-"

Kazuma was cut off as without hesitation, Aqua sprinted forward, her staff clutched tightly in her hand as she raced toward the farm with reckless abandon.

"Mask of the evil earth or whatever you are called! I'm gonna show you who's boss! You made me waste these whole hours suffering in fear and terror! Now I'll return it all to you! Nobody messes with a goddess and gets away with it!"

But as Aqua raised her staff, ready to unleash her divine wrath upon the mask, her incantation was abruptly cut off by a chilling sight that left her frozen in shock.

"Dammit Aqua, stop going out of your way before-AH!" Kazuma was also cut short as he, Megumin and Darkness arrived and pretty much reacted in shock as well.

Before them stood the pig farmer, his once-friendly face twisted into a grotesque mask of malevolence, the dark aura emanating from the mask enveloping his entire form. His body had grown slightly larger, his muscles bulging with an unnatural strength that belied his former appearance.

A shiver ran down Kazuma's spine as he met the pig farmer's gaze, his heart pounding in his chest as he braced himself for whatever was to come. Megumin and Darkness stood beside him, their expressions mirroring his own mixture of fear and determination.

Then, the pig farmer spoke, his words dripping with malice and distortion. "I'm going to farm you to death!"

With a deafening roar, he charged at Kazuma's party, his movements and strength were reckless yet powerful as he closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Panic gripped the group as they scrambled to defend themselves against the farmer-turned-monster, their minds racing as they searched for a way to stop the pig farmer from attacking.

Kazuma's mind raced, trying to formulate a plan to combat their formidable foe. "Well, they weren't kidding about the mask's abilities," he remarked, his voice tense with apprehension. "But I never thought it could make the wearer grow larger and scarier!"

Megumin, her eyes wide with alarm, ducked as a hay bale whizzed past her head.

"This is bad," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with unease. "We need to find a way to stop him before he tramples us all! I could cast an explosion spell but I need to find a safe spot for it! Plus, I don't think it would be fair to hit the poor victim of the mask! Also I could risk destroying the entire farm which will give us more debt!"

"Good point! So do any of you have a plan!?" Kazuma yelled back while trying to not get hit.

Aqua's bravado faltered instantly in the face of danger as she stumbled backwards, narrowly avoiding the pig farmer's charging attack.

"I-I didn't sign up for this!" she stammered, her voice trembling with fear. "I just wanted the reward!"

Meanwhile, Darkness stepped forward with a determined gleam in her eyes. "Leave it to me!" she declared, her voice ringing with confidence.

Before anyone could stop her, she purposely threw herself in the path of the pig farmer's charging attack, taking the full force of the blow. The impact was frighteningly strong that the group saw Darkness's half of the armor leaving her body as she fell to the ground.

Kazuma's heart raced followed by his face looking in deep horror. As he watched her fall, a cry of alarm escaped his lips. "DARKNESS!"

But to no one's surprise, Darkness grunted in pain yet still feeling aroused with her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Wow... the power of this mask can really pack a punch when it possesses someone...!" She murmured as her voice tinged with awe.

Kazuma could only shake his head in annoyance and panic. He had to find a strategy and fast.

The pig farmer continued his relentless assault, hurling hay bales with surprising accuracy, Kazuma's mind raced with possibilities. Dodging the projectiles, he shouted over the chaos to his companions. "Alright, listen up! We need a plan to take down this guy and remove that mask!"

Megumin nodded, her eyes narrowing in determination. "I'm with you, Kazuma. What's the plan?"

Kazuma scanned their surroundings, searching for any advantage they could use against the hostile farmer. "We can't take him down head-on! But if we can find a way to stun him, we might have a chance to strike and take the mask off!"

The goddess of water could only hope Kazuma knew what he was doing and followed his plan which was that both she and Megumin find a place to hide while he focused on getting the possessed pig farmer's attention to him and drive away from Darkness who meanwhile is still feeling aroused both at the beating and the fact that she was taken out of the fight so easily.

A menacing growl from the farmer, rumbling in his throat, erupted as he charged at the former shut-in-neet who began running in a circle and avoiding the reckless attacks. As the pig farmer charged towards Kazuma, the latter's heart raced with anticipation. He knew that this was their moment to strike, their chance to turn the tide of the battle in their favor.

"Now, Aqua!" Kazuma yelled.

Hearing Kazuma's command, Aqua stood up with determination, ready to channel her divine energy.

"Sacred Exorcism!" she cried out, her voice ringing out with power as a blinding pillar of light erupted from her forehead, illuminating the darkened forest with its brilliance.

The force of Aqua's spell was enough to stun the pig farmer, his monstrous form faltering as he staggered backwards, momentarily dazed by the sheer intensity of the attack. Kazuma seized the opportunity, charging forward with all his strength as he delivered blow after blow, striking at the pig farmer's weakened form with ferocity and determination.

Despite their success, Aqua couldn't help but feel a pang of disbelief. The fact that her powerful spell had only served to momentarily stun the pig farmer served as a stark reminder of the mask's formidable power.

Knowing that the farmer was now losing strength, the mask detached itself from his face with a sickening squelch, resulting in the victim reverting back to his normal size and losing consciousness. Kazuma's eyes narrowed as he locked gazes with the malevolent object, his grip tightening around his sword as he prepared to strike.

But before he could make a move, the mask darted away with surprising speed, evading Kazuma's strike effortlessly. With a growl of frustration, Kazuma lunged after it, his sword slicing through the air as he tried in vain to catch the elusive object.

"Guys, do something!" he yelled, his voice tinged with urgency as he fell to the ground after a failed reckless attempt to strike the mask with the sword.

But Megumin hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "I-I can't cast my explosion spell if it keeps moving!" she admitted.

Darkness, still recovering from the earlier blow, struggled to rise.

This led to Aqua using her power once more and shouting "Sacred Turn Undead!" unleashing a blast of divine energy towards the fleeing mask.

But despite her efforts, the mask was too fast, darting and weaving through the air with uncanny agility. Aqua's spell missed its mark, leaving the mask free to continue its escape.

This failure was really filling Kazuma's anger to its peak as he slammed his fists to the ground saying "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! It got away again!"

He stood up while his arms trembled in rage before turning to his companions and looking at them as if he was about to explode in irritation. Looking at Darkness, then on Megumin and then on Aqua.

"I'm getting sick of this! I'm getting tired that it always comes down to this! You with your masochism! You and your explosion spells! And YOU who remains just as useful as a wet noodle in a fight!"

Aqua was quick to react in anger as well. "Excuse me? I was only following your plan, Kazuma! And if it wasn't for me, that mask would have torn us all apart!"

Kazuma scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief and frustration. "Yeah, well, thanks to your poor aim, it's probably already on its way to town by now!"

Aqua bristled at his words, her temper flaring. "Hey, it's not my fault the mask is so fast! And besides, I did my best to stun it and create an opening for you to strike!"

The argument continued to escalate, each of them refusing to back down as they aired their grievances and frustrations. Megumin stood silently to the side, her hands clenched tightly around her staff. In the midst of their bickering, she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at her.

Throughout the entire ordeal, she realized she had done nothing but provide support. Her obsession with explosion magic had left her feeling helpless and useless, unable to contribute anything meaningful to their efforts. And now, as she listened to Kazuma and Aqua trade insults, she had to wonder if it was finally time to let go of her single-minded dedication to her craft.

But as the thought crossed her mind, a wave of uncertainty washed over her. Explosion magic was her identity, her purpose in life. To abandon it would be to abandon a part of herself, a part that she had held onto for so long.

Lost in her thoughts, Megumin was jolted back to reality by the groan of the now freed man awakening from his unconsciousness. Darkness, having finally recovered from her injuries, rushed to his side, offering him support as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings.

"Uhh... what happened?" the man mumbled, his voice groggy with confusion.

Darkness placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her voice gentle as she reassured him. "Don't worry, you're safe now. You were under the influence of a malevolent mask, but we managed to free you from its grasp."

The freed pig farmer's eyes widened in shock at the mention of the mask by Darkness.

"Y-You... you mean the Mask of the Dark Earth!?" he stammered, his voice trembling with fear and disbelief.

Darkness nodded solemnly, her expression grave. "Yes, that's the one. You were under its influence."

The man's face paled at her words, his mind racing as he processed the gravity of the situation. "I-I heard legends of the mask, tales of its dark powers and the devastation it can unleash." he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"But I was hoping it was nothing more than a mythological tale. I never imagined it could be real. In any case, I owe you all a great debt of gratitude for saving me." he declared, his voice ringing with sincerity. "My name is Glenn, and I'd like to offer you all my thanks and whatever supplies I can spare as a token of my appreciation."

The group exchanged glances, their expressions softened by Glenn's offer of gratitude, despite the chaos and turmoil they had endured. With a nod of agreement, Kazuma stepped forward, extending his hand to shake Glenn's.

"We appreciate your generosity, and we're glad we could help." He said.

With Glenn's offer of supplies, the group knew that they would be better equipped to continue their journey. However there was a problem... The party was far away from town and the speed of the mask may have already reached town. Kazuma tried to elaborate on how to get back home as soon as possible, before giving in.

"I guess this is mission failed, guys. The mask is probably already there and who knows who fell victim to it now."

Glenn, however, offered a glimmer of hope. "Don't worry," he said reassuringly. "I can teleport you there."

The group's eyes widened in surprise at Glenn's unexpected revelation. "Teleportation?" Kazuma echoed, his voice filled with disbelief. "Do you know how to use teleportation magic?"

Glenn nodded, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yes," he explained. "A certain woman and a strange looking man passed by my farm a few months back. They were on their way to gather ingredients for their potions in the shop they work in. I helped them out, and in return, this woman taught me how to use teleportation magic in case of emergencies."

A collective sense of relief washed over the group as they realized who Glenn was referring to. "Wiz!" Kazuma exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face while thinking about her. "Ah you're the best!"

Aqua and Darkness were relieved at the news. Megumin as well... though she was still a bit dejected at the fact that she still didn't contribute anything to the quest other than to just cheer everyone up. But maybe now that they have one more chance to find and destroy the mask, she can have her moment to shine.

With Glenn's offer to teleport them back to Axel town, the group knew that they had another opportunity to catch up to the mask before it could cause any more trouble. "Glenn, can you teleport us back to Axel town?" Kazuma asked, his tone eager.

Glenn nodded, his expression determined. "Of course," he replied. "I hope you can destroy that mask soon and put an end to its reign of terror."

Gathered together in a tight circle, the group watched with bated breath as Glenn began to channel his newfound teleportation magic. His hands glowed with a soft, pulsating light as he focused his energy, his brow furrowed in concentration.

As the magic swirled around them, Kazuma couldn't help but feel a sense of unease gnawing at him.

"Please don't mess this up like Wiz did..." Kazuma said in his thoughts, remembering when Wiz accidentally teleported him and the others in the zone where the lady orcs resided when the party was trying to get to Megumin's village.

But despite his concerns, Glenn remained steadfast, his determination shining through as he continued to channel the magic with unwavering focus. And then, with a final surge of energy, he unleashed the spell, a brilliant flash of light engulfing the group as they were enveloped in its embrace.

For a brief moment, the world seemed to spin around them, the sensation of being torn from one place to another leaving their stomachs churning with unease. But just as suddenly as it had begun, the spinning ceased, and the group found themselves standing once again in the familiar streets of Axel town.

"We made it!" Kazuma exclaimed, his voice filled with triumph.

But celebrations were quickly interrupted as they heard shouts and other people running in fear.

"Just as I thought... the mask is already here." Aqua muttered in worry.

Kazuma sighed in frustration before looking determined. He was sure that this time they will find that annoying flying evil artifact and destroy it once and for all.

Chapter Text

The group materialized in the bustling streets of Axel town, they were met with a scene of chaos and panic. Citizens ran frantically in every direction, their faces contorted with fear as they fled from an unseen threat.

Despite the party's resolve, they were fighting against their fears for the worst. A nearby figure caught Kazuma's eye, a young girl clutching onto a bundle of belongings as she hurried past. With determination in his stride, he approached her, his companions close behind.

"Hey, wait!" he called out, reaching out to grab her arm. "Can you tell us what's happening?"

The girl's eyes widened with fear as she turned to face them, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "It's Mitsurugi Kyouya!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "He's gone insane! He's... he's causing chaos all over town!"

Kazuma's eyes widened in shock at the mention of Mitsurugi Kyouya, a supposed 'rival' of his whom he knew was actually a capable warrior compared to himself. If the mask had indeed gotten to him, the situation had just become infinitely more dangerous.

With a grim yet worried expression, Kazuma turned to his companions, his mind racing with possibilities. "The mask has gotten to Mitsurugi Kyouya." he said, heavy with realization. "We need to stop this before things get even worse."

With the gravity of the situation sinking in, Kazuma's party exchanged didn't seem to mirror the concern etched on Kazuma's face upon realizing who they have to deal with.

Aqua's brows furrowed in annoyance with the mention of Mitsurugi Kyouya's name evident in her tone. "Huh... never was really fond of that guy anyway."

Darkness nodded in agreement, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Indeed," she said, with disappointment. "Those hard-working methods and lacking in ruthlessness always rubbed me the wrong way."

Megumin, however, couldn't help but smirk at the prospect of facing off against someone she personally disliked. "Well, well," she mused, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Maybe now's my chance to blow him up once and for all."

Kazuma facepalmed. While he also did not have a high opinion on Kyouya, it didn't change the fact that he was now possessed by the mask and knowing that he was an actual capable fighter compared to them, with the mask's power he would now pose a huge threat.

"Look guys, just put aside your personal opinions on him and focus on taking the mask off of him. Remember the quest and the reward." He told them.

"Well, I believe it's more than just an everyday quest, Kazuma. Now it's an emergency one! look!" Aqua exclaimed with urgency as she pointed forward.

Kazuma turned to follow her gaze, his shocked look returned to form in his face as he caught sight of Mitsurugi Kyouya, his form towering over the surrounding chaos. The Mask of the Dark Earth adorned his face, twisting his features into a grotesque visage of malevolence.

From a distance, Kazuma could see Kyouya engaged in battle with a group of adventurers, his movements fueled by a dark energy that seemed to emanate from the mask itself. The adventurers fought valiantly, their voices raised in confusion and desperation as they struggled to comprehend what had happened to their former comrade.

"What is wrong with him!? Why is he attacking us!? But also... why is he even in a bigger size!?" One adventurer questioned as he tried to dodge the relentless attacks or block them with the sword.

"It's that mask!" another one of the adventurers shouted in response, his voice filled with alarm. "It's controlling him!"

But despite their efforts, the adventurers were no match for Kyouya's newfound malevolent strength. With each swing of his sword and each blast of dark energy, he struck them down with ruthless efficiency, his movements fueled by a power beyond their comprehension. The party watched the scene growing more and more intense. This was no longer a quest like any other... Now it was about survival against a worldwide threat. Kazuma felt frustrated as if only they dealt with the mask sooner, all of this would have never happened and they would have got the money they need to repay the debts. But, due to their failure and misfortune, now they have to deal with the problem that was now affecting everyone, and if now the mask would cause destruction towards the town by possessing the inhabitants, even if they succeed in destroying it, they would then have to use the reward to also pay for the damage and that would mean they will need to go into more quests to pay the rest of the debt.

He clenched his fists in anger at the thought but he had to put that aside as an adventurer just flowed near the party after being knocked out from the possessed Kyouya. The party knew what this meant...

"Uh-oh...!" Kazuma muttered as he watched the figure of Mitsurugi Kyouya draw closer.

With a deep, distorted effect in his voice, Kyouya noticed and addressed Kazuma with a tone filled with hatred, his words laced with venomous resentment.

"Kazuma Satou," he growled with clear malice in his voice. "You humiliated me. You stole and sold my Gram sword, and then you dismissed Aqua, the woman I loved, as nothing more than a nuisance."

He sneered at Kazuma, his eyes burning with fury.

"I wanted to be a hero, to protect the weak and defeat the Devil King," he continued, dripping with bitterness as he began to smirk creepily.

"But now, with the power of this mask... I no longer need to play by these stupid rules. I can channel my anger and newfound power into something bigger! Starting by taking out you and your pathetic party!"

With a dramatic flourish, Kyouya revealed his new sword, its blade glinting ominously in the dim light. Kazuma's heart sank as he realized the true extent of Kyouya's transformation. This was no longer the show-off "heroic" man he had once known. He had become something far more menacing, something fueled by hatred.

Kyouya advanced and his footsteps made a loud and clear threatening noise with his face filled with sadism. With their lives hanging in the balance, Kazuma braced themselves for the battle that lay ahead, stealing their resolve as they prepared to confront their ally-turned-foe in a showdown that would test their strength, their courage, and their bonds of friendship... or something.

Kazuma and his party assumed alert stances, their eyes locked on the possessed victim with determination burning in their hearts.

"Don't worry, guys... I have a plan." Kazuma reassured them, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Megumin, Darkness, and Aqua glanced at him with their expressions reflecting Kazuma's determination.

"We're with you, Kazuma. Whatever you have in mind, we'll follow you." Megumin said with confidence.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Kazuma's lips as he closed his eyes briefly, feeling the weight of his companions' trust in him. But as he glanced back at Kyouya... his smile faded, replaced by a look of sheer panic.

"Run!" he exclaimed suddenly, his voice tinged with urgency as he turned and bolted away. The three girls blinked in confusion, their expressions puzzled as they watched Kazuma sprinting off into the distance.

"Wait, what?" Aqua exclaimed, her voice tinged with bewilderment.

This gesture made Megumin let out a resigned sigh, her demeanor conveying a sense of inevitability. It was just like Kazuma to run from danger, after all. Aqua and Darkness, however, felt a pang of disappointment at their leader's apparent cowardice. They had hoped for more from him in this moment of crisis after everything they've been through, but deep down, they weren't entirely surprised by his reaction.

Their thoughts were interrupted by the freakish presence of Kyouya, with the ominous aura enveloping his figure from the mask burning with malice, as he advanced towards them.

Aqua attempted to reason with him, with a trembling mixture of fear and desperation in her voice. "Kyouya, please," she pleaded with concern. "I know you had a crush on me. If you let me, I can help you."

But Kyouya's response was swift and merciless. "I don't need a novice archpriest like you anymore. And I certainly don't need distractions!" he spat, his distorted voice dripping with contempt.

Aqua's feelings were hit from his hurtful words, her frustration bubbling to the surface as she pouted comically. After everything she had done for him, granting him the Gram sword when she reincarnated him, to be dismissed so callously was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Grrh...! It's as if that mask is showing that deep down you aren't so different from Kazuma's ungratefulness!" She retorted.

However, Darkness stepped forward, drawing her sword while seemingly feeling self-assured. "I may start to have second thoughts about you now." she declared.

Her voice steady despite the danger looming before them. "You're being so dangerous and cruel... and yet I know this isn't the real you."

Her seemingly determined look escalated even further. "Once we take the mask off you, promise me you will maintain this attitude! I swear I will truly reconsider the low opinion I had for you and even welcome you at our party!"

Silence took them as Megumin and Aqua looked at her with weirded eyes. Kyouya scoffed at her empty words, his grip tightening on his sword as he swung it with deadly accuracy, hurling Aqua, Darkness, and Megumin away with ease.

"AAAAAAAAH!" The girls screamed in terror and pain from the hit as they happened to crash towards Kazuma, who had been attempting to flee in fear. Aqua and Megumin collided with him, knocking him to the ground, while Darkness landed on top of the three... her usual masochistic tendencies were already kicking in.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Kazuma exclaimed, wincing as he tried to untangle himself from the pile of bodies. "What the hell...!?"

Aqua groaned from the pain as she struggled to sit up, her frustration evident in her voice. "Kazuma, you coward! You left us to face that madman alone!"

Megumin nodded in agreement. Despite her efforts to maintain composure, the subtle furrow of her brows and the tightening of her jawline revealed her patience wearing thin. "What happened to that 'we're going to do this for the reward' part?" she scolded.

Kazuma's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he attempted to defend himself. "Hey, I had a plan!" he protested, though his words fell on deaf ears as the girls continued to berate him.

"Oh a plan? Like what!? Running away and allowing the mask to keep possessing people and wreaking havoc!?" Aqua countered.

But Kazuma wanted to have none of this. "I'm not the type of guy to have an immediate strategy right away! I need the enemy distracted or having the attention to something else! What the hell did you expect me to do!? We're way out of our league against this freaking thing head on!"

His attention then went to Darkness who was too busy with her masochism after being hit by Kyouya's sword. Laying on top of the pile, her usual masochistic inclinations getting the better of her. She exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she reveled in the chaos around her.

"Oh, this is so exhilarating...! Why couldn't he have been this way to begin with...!?" She said while blushing.

The group lay tangled in a heap, Darkness at the top, their panic escalating as Kyouya approached, Kazuma's voice rang out in urgency.

"Darkness get off us now! He's coming!" Kazuma yelled with a tone filled with fear.

"Stop with the masochism and move! You're too heavy!" Megumin added, her voice strained with desperation as she struggled to push herself free.

"Darkneeeess...!" Aqua cried out, her eyes widened in terror as she watched Kyouya draw closer, his laughter echoing ominously in the air.

Kyouya's distorted voice cut through the chaos, his words dripping with malice as he reveled in their fear.

"Your pained and panicked expressions are so satisfying." he taunted, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "I should have done this the first time I laid eyes on you."

With a swift motion, Kyouya raised his sword, preparing to give a deadly strike. But before he could deliver the final blow, a sudden intervention startled him.

"Create Water!" shouted other adventurers, their voices echoing through the chaos as they shot jets of water from their palms.

The water cascaded towards Kyouya, forcing him to block the attack and temporarily halting his advance. They continued to unleash torrents of water magic, driving back the possessed Kyouya and forcing him into retreat, a sense of relief washed over the group. Some of the adventurers rushed off in pursuit of their elusive foe, determined to bring an end to the chaos that had engulfed Axel town.

Meanwhile, the remaining adventurers turned their attention to the group, offering assistance as they worked to untangle them from the heap they had become.

"Are you guys alright?" they asked with concern.

Kazuma nodded. "Yeah, thanks for the help. I really thought we were gonna-"

"Kazuma Satou!" A familiar voice cut through the chaos, sending a shiver down his spine.

Turning around, Kazuma's eyes widened in surprise as he came face to face with Sena, the royal prosecutor of the country. Her uniform was a bit torn and disheveled, evidence of her recent confrontation with the possessed Kyouya. Her gaze was sharp and accusatory as she fixed her gaze on Kazuma, her voice tinged with anger.

"You better give me an explanation of all of this! Are you behind this whole thing!? She demanded, with a tone leaving no room for argument.

Kazuma's mind raced as he tried to come up with a response, his heart sinking at the thought of being accused of yet another crime. With Sena's piercing gaze bearing down on him, he panicked... but then again he knew this wasn't his fault.

"No, we're not behind this!" Kazuma soon began his defense. "We were only on a quest to destroy an artifact that was looming over the forest outside of town! We never wanted things to escalate like this!"

Aqua and Megumin stepped forward, joining Kazuma in explaining the situation to Sena. They recounted their encounter with the Mask of the Dark Earth, detailing how they had accepted a quest to destroy it before it could reach Axel town. They explained how they had tracked the mask to the forest and how it was 'alive' and capable of latching onto people's faces to corrupt them and turn them evil. They recalled their previous encounter with a pig farmer that became suddenly hostile and they struggled so hard to remove the artifact from the victim. Adding also how hard it was to catch the mask when it desperately flew over to find a new host. They never thought it was this quick to immediately get to town.

"We were just trying to stop Kyouya and the mask moments earlier. We never wanted any of this to happen." Aqua chimed in.

Megumin nodded in agreement, her expression grave. "We were only doing the right thing and protecting the town and its people from the mask's influence."

Sena listened intently, her expression softening slightly as she took in their words. It was clear that she was beginning to understand the gravity of the situation, and the role that Kazuma and his companions had played in trying to resolve it.

"I see. So because of your failure to destroy this... 'mask' now it has reached the city and it is using Mitsurugi Kyouya to cause this turmoil?"

She sighed. Her previous aggressiveness was now replaced with a look that felt compassionate and worrying. "I apologize for jumping to conclusions. It seems you've been through quite an ordeal."

With Sena's acceptance, a sense of relief washed over the group. While contemplating their next move, Kazuma's thoughts were filled with countless possible strategies. "We need to find a way to remove the mask from Kyouya and then destroy the mask."

Sena nodded in agreement, though a hint of uncertainty lingered in her expression. "But how do we do that?" she wondered aloud.

Aqua piped up, feeling reassured as she recalled their previous encounter with the mask. "The mask is apparently demonic and vulnerable to water magic. We saw how effective it was against it before. So you can leave that to me." she explained with a tone tinged with confidence.

Kazuma was going to agree with her but then he saw moments earlier when the others used water spells to force Kyouya to retreat. While the water did make him react, it didn't stun him as much as it did to the pig farmer from before.

"I don't think it is that simple, Aqua. As much as it pains me to say it, I have to assume that it all depends on the strength of the host."

Megumin smirked mischievously, her fingers tightening around her staff as she contemplated their options. "Well, if water magic won't do the trick, perhaps it's time to unleash my explosion spell." she suggested, her voice filled with excitement.

Kazuma's eyes bulged comically in horror at the suggestion, his hands shooting up in protest. "Absolutely not! The last thing we need is destroying half the city and rack up even more debt!"

Megumin's smirk faltered slightly as she reluctantly acknowledged the validity of Kazuma's concerns. Her grip now tightened in frustration while holding her staff. "Hrrm...! Alright then. As much as I want to cast my spell, it's too risky here."

Despite her disappointment, Megumin knew that Kazuma was right. They couldn't afford to cause any more chaos than they already had. And so, with a heavy heart, she released her grip on her staff, her urge to unleash her explosion spell temporarily subdued.

"What do you suggest then, Kazuma? We can't just stand here doing nothing while this mask is trying to kill us all!" Aqua questioned as her voice was now raised a little in fear.

After a moment of deep thought, a glimmer of realization sparked in his eyes.

"There's only one option left," Kazuma said finally, his voice resolute. "We need to find Wiz. The potions she makes could give us a chance! If anyone can help us subdue the mask and destroy it, it's her."

With their course of action decided, the group set off towards Wiz's shop, their footsteps quickening with each step. As they hurried through the bustling streets of Axel town, Kazuma couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency gnawing at him. They were running out of time, and the fate of the town hung in the balance.

With luck on their side, they hoped that they would find Wiz safe and sound, her shop untouched by the chaos that had engulfed the town. And as they approached their destination, their hearts pounded with anticipation, knowing that their encounter with Wiz would be the key to unlocking the solution to their predicament.

But upon their arrival, before they could even knock, their efforts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the possessed Kyouya. His larger-than-life figure cast a menacing shadow over the group, his presence terrified them all, contrasting his supposed heroic self that he was meant to be. He was holding a defeated adventurer that tried to stop him, and without hesitation, he discarded the body of the fallen man. A grim reminder of the danger they faced.

Aqua looked in horror as she watched the scene unfold before her. Sure, she knew she could just resurrect anyone who died, but this dark moment was way too much for her to handle.

Darkness attempted to collect her remaining strength to confront Kyouya again, but even if she would love to receive another brutal beating by the power of the mask, she couldn't bring herself to disappoint Kazuma again especially in a tense situation like this.

Megumin wanted to cast the explosion spell so badly, just by looking at the man she found annoying and because of her obsession with her magic. But the fact that they were inside town and the risk it could pretty much destroy everything, was really consuming her desperation and thus she did not know what to do in order to help.

Sena could only watch in fear and hoped Kazuma knew what he was doing. Especially considering that upon looking at him, he pounded on the door of Wiz's shop, his tone filled with urgency as he called out for help.

"Wiz! Open the door! We need help here! Wiz!" he shouted.

With each passing moment, the tension in the air grew thicker, the group's hopes resting on the slim chance that help would arrive in time to save them from the impending threat.

Everything initially seemed lost for the group... until a sudden commotion erupted as three muscular adventurers barreled into the fray. Among them stood a familiar face - the ruffian with the mohawk hairstyle, a constant presence in their adventures, always offering words of encouragement and belief in Kazuma's abilities.

The ruffian wasted no time in tackling the possessed Kyouya to the ground, with a booming voice filled with hope. "Here's your chance, kid! Do it!" he yelled, urging Kazuma to take action.

"Huh...? Wait...!" Kazuma's confusion quickly gave way to realization as he remembered one of the first skills he learned. With a chuckle, he exclaimed, "Why haven't I thought of that before!?"

The girls looked on in confusion at first, but as Kazuma got into position, they quickly understood his plan. With a determined glint in his eye, Kazuma extended his arm, his hand glowing with a mysterious energy.

"STEEEEEEEAL!!!" he shouted, activating his skill with precision.

In an instant, Kazuma's hand made contact with the mask. It worked! It snatched away from Kyouya's face, returning him to his regular size and losing consciousness.

Kazuma smirked triumphantly, relishing in the sadistic delight of holding the artifact in his hands, the group began to contemplate their next course of action.

"So, how do we destroy this thing?" Kazuma mused, his voice tinged with excitement as he twirled the mask between his fingers.

Aqua piped up, her eyes alight with apparent sadism. "Perhaps we should drown it!" she suggested.

Darkness offered a more practical suggestion. "Maybe we could bury it deep underground."

Megumin shook her head eagerly, her staff at the ready. "No no, we shall blow it to smithereens with my explosion spell!" she exclaimed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

As they debated the best method of destruction, their guard momentarily lowered, allowing the mask to seize its opportunity. With a sudden burst of strength, it began to wriggle and squirm in Kazuma's grasp, sending him flying through the air with surprising force.

"Aaaaaaah!" Kazuma yelled in panic.

"KAZUMA!" Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness cried out in unison, their voices filled with concern as they watched their friend soar through the air.

But before they could react, the mask slammed Kazuma against a nearby wall, causing him to lose his grip and sending the artifact tumbling to the ground, free once more from its captor's grasp.

The group rushed to his side, only for him to angrily shout "What are you waiting for!? After it, before it takes another person!"

Aqua and Darkness remained frozen in shock, their minds reeling from the sudden turn of events. But Megumin, ever the decisive one, wasted no time in springing into action.

"I got this, Kazuma!" she yelled.

"Oh no no, Megumin! Don't you dare cast the explosion spell! You're gonna give us more debt afterwards!"

But Kazuma's voice faded away as Megumin was running as fast as she could. With a fierce determination burning in her red eyes, she chased after the mask with unwavering resolve her heart pounding with adrenaline as she focused all of her energy on catching up to the elusive relic. She felt a surge of grit coursing through her veins. This was her moment, her chance to prove herself and save the day. And with the knowledge that she had yet to unleash her explosive magic, she had a sense of anticipation building within her. She could feel victory within her grasp, the thrill of the chase exhilarating her as she drew closer and closer to her goal.

But this brief moment of high spirits were cut short...

Meanwhile, a girl, who bore a striking resemblance to Megumin in age, wandered the streets of Axel town, her mind filled with concern for the turmoil that had gripped the town. She had returned with the intention of intervening and ensuring the safety of everyone caught up in the chaos.

Lost in her thoughts, she was taken completely by surprise when she suddenly felt a presence behind her. Before she could react, she turned around to find the mask hurtling towards her at breakneck speed. Shock and fear gripped her as she gasped in disbelief.

"Huh!?" she exclaimed as her voice tinged with panic and scrambled to dodge the incoming flying object.

But it was too late.

As Megumin raced through the streets in search of the elusive mask, her heart raced with urgency. But her focus quickly turned to surprise as she stumbled upon a familiar figure - her best friend, former classmate from the Crimson Demon village and her supposed rival.

"Yunyun!" Megumin exclaimed, her voice filled with both relief and concern. "You're here too? I'm glad you're okay, but listen, there's a dangerous mask around the city and we need to destroy it! Kazuma and the others are-"

Her words trailed off as silence fell between them, Yunyun strangely quiet and unresponsive. Megumin's eyes dilated in shock as Yunyun slowly turned around to reveal the mask latched onto her face.

"No...!" Megumin gasped, Her voice quivered with despair as she recoiled in horror at the sight before her.

Yunyun's voice, initially calm and unaffected, took on a sinister tone as she spoke.

"Megumin... is there something wrong?"

The voice seemed innocent yet it gave an ominous feeling that Megumin never felt before whenever she was with her. With trembling hands, Megumin pointed at the mask, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yunyun... y-you... have something on your face...!"

But before she could utter another word, Yunyun's demeanor shifted entirely, her voice growing darker and more menacing with each passing moment.

"You have been rude to me for the last time, Megumin." Yunyun's voice was slowly being consumed with a demonic undertone.

"I suppose this will be our final duel."

With a sense of dread gripping her heart, Megumin watched Yunyun's form began to grow larger, consumed by the malevolent power of the mask. Yunyun's voice rang out with a chilling declaration of intent.

"Because now... I shall KILL YOU!"

Megumin couldn't believe what she was seeing. She hoped this was just a nightmare but the harsh reality was way too much to bear. She felt tears in her eyes that she was desperately trying to hold. Despite their bickering and everything they've been through together, this was the last thing she wanted to see.

"YUNYUN!" she cried her name in despair as her voice echoed through the whole Axel town.

Things were far from over.

Chapter Text

"YUNYUN!"

Megumin's voice was almost heard all over the city. Her anguish and despair felt like it was overtaking her. Despite their differences and constant bickering, Yunyun was her best friend even if they were stubborn to admit it out loud.

With a heavy heart, she knew that she had to do whatever it took to save her friend, to break the grip of the mask and bring Yunyun back to herself. But if things were already complicated when the mask possessed other victims like Kyouya, with Yunyun now Megumin felt like there was no hope. Deep down she knew what Yunyun was capable of compared to her and now with the mask controlling her rival and friend, everyone's lives were truly at stake.

As Megumin's anguished cries pierced the air, Kazuma and the others froze in place, their hearts sinking at the sound of her despairing voice that they just overheard.

"Did you hear that?" Kazuma's voice trembled with concern as he exchanged worried glances with Aqua, Darkness, and the rest of the group.

"It's Megumin." Aqua murmured, her voice filled with dread as she clasped her hands together, her thoughts consumed by apprehension over the implication.

Darkness's eyes widened in shock as she heard the name 'Yunyun' uttered by Megumin, her breath catching in her throat. "Yunyun..." she whispered as she struggled to comprehend the significance of Megumin's cry.

A heavy silence fell over the group as they stood frozen in place, their minds reeling with fear and uncertainty. They knew that the mention of Yunyun's name could only mean one thing...

The group stood frozen, their senses heightened by the tension in the air, they suddenly heard the sound of footsteps approaching - a combination of normal footsteps and heavier, ominous ones.

Their eyes met in silent understanding, each of them fearing the worst as they braced themselves for what was to come. And just as they had feared, their worst nightmares were realized as Megumin came running towards them, her breath ragged and panicked, her eyes bulged with dread.

But what truly instilled terror in their hearts was the sight of Yunyun in pursuit, her form enlarged and distorted by the malevolent power of the mask that now clung to her face.

"OH MY GOD, ARE YOU SERIOUS!?" Kazuma yelled with disbelief as he stared in shock at the unfolding scene before him. The mask got Yunyun now. Aqua on the other hand just screamed in fear while Darkness's jaw was dropped.

Megumin's voice rose above the chaos, her words urgent and desperate as she cried out to Kazuma, pleading for help.

"Kazuma! We have to do something!!!" she yelled while continuing to flee from the possessed Yunyun.

With their friend in grave danger and the threat of the mask looming large, the group knew that they had no choice but to confront a possessed victim head-on yet again.

Aqua's voice rang out with a suggestion, her eyes wide with hope. "Kazuma, why don't you use 'Steal' again to take the mask off of Yunyun?"

Kazuma shook his head, his expression grim as he glanced at Yunyun's rapidly moving form. "I can't do that if Yunyun keeps on moving! And with her advanced magic, it might be impossible to get close enough!" he explained, his voice tense with frustration.

A sense of doom settled over Aqua and Sena as they realized the gravity of their situation, the weight of their helplessness pressing down on them like a suffocating blanket.
But just as despair threatened to overwhelm them, Darkness stepped forward, her resolve firm and unwavering. With determination shining in her eyes, she prepared to charge forward and try to tackle Yunyun.

"We can't just stand here and do nothing! I'll try to hold her off!" Darkness declared.
With a deep breath, Darkness surged forward, her sword raised high as she prepared to face the possessed Yunyun. But before she could even reach her, Yunyun unleashed a powerful blast of magic, the Light of Saber slicing through the air with deadly precision.

The group watched in horror as Darkness was struck by the attack, her body sent hurtling towards the ground with a sickening thud. Kazuma's heart lurched in his chest as he cried out her name, his voice filled with anguish and fear.

Yunyun briefly glanced at Darkness's injured form, a cold, calculating look crossed her face before her attention swiftly returned to Megumin, who stared back at her in wide-eyed panic.

With urgency driving her forward, Megumin broke into a sprint, her heart pounding as she desperately tried to evade Yunyun's relentless pursuit. Her cries for help were evident. This was no longer your typical banter the two girls usually had... something that really pierced through Megumin's soul.

With every passing moment, the chase grew more frantic, Megumin's breath coming in ragged gasps as she pushed herself to her limits to stay one step ahead of her relentless pursuer. But no matter how fast she ran or how skillfully she dodged, Yunyun's magic seemed inexorable.

Kazuma observed the intense chase between Yunyun and Megumin, a troubling realization began to dawn on him. Unlike the previous victims of the mask, Yunyun seemed singularly focused on going after Megumin, her attacks aimed solely at the fellow crimson-demon girl.

Before he could voice his suspicions, Aqua's urgent voice cut through his thoughts, urging him to find another way to stop the turmoil. But before they could formulate a plan, their attention was drawn to the sudden appearance of Wiz, who emerged from the entrance door of her shop with a look of grave concern etched upon her features. Without hesitation, she beckoned to the group, urging them to seek refuge inside.

"Quickly, come inside!" Wiz called out. "I've prepared a magic item that may be able to halt the mask's power. Hurry!"

The group wasted no time in obeying Wiz's instructions, their footsteps quickening as they hurried towards the safety of the shop's interior. All except Darkness.

The crusader was struggling to rise from the ground, her muscles protesting with every movement, she suddenly felt a presence beside her. Startled, she turned her head to see a familiar figure standing tall above her, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

"Need some help?" the unmistakable voice of Vanir rang out, his tone dripping with amusement as he extended a hand towards her.
Darkness was surprised at the unexpected sight of the devilish shopkeeper and former general of the Devil King.

"Vanir...!" She murmured.

In a moment she reached out and grasped Vanir's outstretched hand, allowing him to pull her upright. Darkness nodded solemnly as she thanked Vanir for his assistance, acknowledging her duty as a crusader to confront the possessed Yunyun and put an end to the chaos wreaked by the Mask of the Dark Earth.

"I thank you for being here... but... as a crusader it is my duty to protect those in danger...!"

Vanir chuckled softly at her resolve, the tone in his voice gleaming with amusement.

"Ah, but my dear, do you truly believe that charging headlong into battle is the best course of action for someone of your... particular talents?"

Darkness blushed while feeling aroused at his clear disrespect as he was obviously pointing out how her masochism barely makes her competent to take down foes.

Despite Vanir scoffing at her reaction, his tone shifted, his words taking on a more serious note. "Let us not forget the nature of this adversary." he reminded her before leaning close to her "This mask possesses its victims, bending them to its will. A familiar scenario, wouldn't you agree?" he smirked in the last part.

Memories of her own possession by Vanir's mask back when they first met flooded Darkness's mind. She remembered all too well the feeling of being mind controlled by him... even if deep down she loved it much to his confusion.

But Vanir's next proposition caught her off guard, his words offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. "Perhaps it's time to re-experience this... in a different context. How about a little game of 'mask vs mask'?" A sly grin playing on his lips.

Taken aback by his proposal... her cheeks became red again at the idea of being once again 'controlled' by someone. That alone was enough to imply that she agreed to the idea. Anything to stop the possessed Yunyun's assault.

Meanwhile Kazuma and the others huddled inside Wiz's shop, desperation clung to the air like a heavy cloak. They turned to Wiz with pleading eyes, hoping against hope that she had something, anything, that could help them in their desperate situation.

With a solemn nod, Wiz reached behind the counter and produced a small, gleaming object.
"I believe this might be what we need. It's a magic item designed to paralyze its target temporarily. It should be effective in immobilizing the victim, allowing you to remove the mask safely." She said in a reassuring voice.

They were hopeful as Kazuma immediately thought of using 'Steal' once Yunyun would be paralyzed and hoping he wouldn't accidentally steal her panties. But their hopes were quickly tempered by the realization that the plan would only work if Yunyun could be kept still long enough for the magic item to take effect. If Yunyun kept moving in her unyielding onslaught due to the mask, then it wouldn't work.

Aqua, ever the quick thinker, was the first to offer a solution. "Guess I'll have to use my water spells to keep Yunyun at bay. She will be distracted, you toss the item at her, she's paralyzed and then steal. The mask will be in your hands again and boom we will destroy it once and for all." She declared as her confidence returned to her once more.

Kazuma could only hope this will finally work as slowly but surely, he was getting sick and tired of this stupid mask.

At the same time Megumin darted through the labyrinthine streets of Axel town. Each step felt like a race against time, the threat of Yunyun's deadly magic coming closer each time the archwizard avoided getting hit.

But amidst the chase, a nagging doubt gnawed at Megumin's conscience. Was this punishment for her past actions? Had her apparent selfishness, teasing and bullying of Yunyun finally caught up with her in the cruelest of ways?

As she dodged another blast of dark energy, Megumin started to feel a pang of remorse. She knew that Yunyun was not herself... that she was being controlled by the malevolent power of the mask. But still, the guilt weighed heavily on her heart, casting a shadow over her thoughts.

In a desperate bid to reason with her supposed best friend, Megumin called out to Yunyun, with desperation. "Yunyun, please! This isn't you!"

But Yunyun's response was chilling—a distorted, demonic voice filled with malice and contempt. "I've been waiting to do this for so long, Megumin! Finally... I can give you a taste of your own medicine!" she hissed, her words dripping with venom.

Megumin realized that her words were falling on deaf ears. The Yunyun she once knew was gone, replaced by a twisted puppet of the mask's dark power. And unless they all could find a way to stop her, Axel town, and everyone in it, would be doomed to suffer the consequences.

Thankfully help arrived just in time as the thunderous strides of the enlarged Yunyun came to an abrupt halt as she sensed a presence coming at her direction. With a mixture of confusion and relief, Megumin turned to see Darkness charging toward the possessed Yunyun, her movements now fluid and purposeful.

But what caught Megumin's eye was the eerie sight of Vanir's mask, now firmly attached to Darkness's face.

Vanir was analyzing Yunyun's offence with her magic combined with the Mask of The Dark Earth and with a mixture of determination and geninue concern.

"The power of that mask is truly horrifying. I suggest to put aside your sense of arousement and cooperate. You can't bear to see your friend in such a state, can you, dear?" he remarked.

Darkness gritted her teeth, her determination shining through as for once she was able to put her main traits aside.

"We need to stop Yunyun and destroy that accursed mask. Use my body to its fullest extent!" she yelled while her cheeks went red again.

A chuckle escaped Vanir as he marveled at Darkness's resolve. "Some things never change, do they?" he mused.

As they continued their intense struggle, Megumin watched with a mixture of apprehension and hope, knowing that despite the odds stacked against them, they were fighting for something greater than themselves. What made her more hopeful was that they were always able to overcome any feat that seemed impossible, so maybe they still had a chance to save Yunyun.

The intense battle unfolded as Yunyun's movements were brutal yet precised. With a menacing glare, she conjured beams of light that sliced through the air like deadly blades, aiming directly at Darkness. The crusader, controlled by Vanir, met each attack with skillful evasion and strategic counterattacks.

While dodging, Darkness lunged forward, her sword gleaming in the dim light as she aimed a decisive strike at Yunyun. But the possessed mage effortlessly deflected the blow, her dark aura pulsating with malevolent energy. Undeterred, Darkness pressed on, her determination unwavering as she continued to engage Yunyun in combat.

Sensing an opening, Yunyun unleashed another devastating attack, this time conjuring blades of wind that tore through the air with ferocious speed. Darkness, reacting with lightning reflexes, narrowly evaded the onslaught, her movements graceful yet purposeful as she danced around the deadly blades.

The battle raged on, each combatant locked in a fierce struggle. Despite Darkness's valiant efforts thanks to Vanir, Yunyun's assault seemed unending, her attacks fueled by the dark power of the mask. But with Vanir guiding her every move, Darkness kept fighting to overcome what was threatening to consume the poor lonely girl from the Crimson Demon village.

Megumin watched in anxiety, feeling a familiar sense of hopelessness wash over her. Once again, she found herself grappling with the overwhelming temptation to unleash her explosion spell. It was her most powerful weapon, her last resort in moments of dire need. But as the thought crossed her mind, she hesitated, remembering the devastating consequences of unleashing such destructive magic within the confines of the town.

The weight of responsibility pressed down on her shoulders as she struggled to find another solution, her mind trying to find another way to intervene. But each strategy seemed futile in the face of the overwhelming power of the objecting that was posessing Yunyun. She felt powerless yet again, trapped in a state of indecision as the battle raged on before her eyes.

"Megumin!"

Just then, she heard her name being called by Kazuma, his voice cutting through the chaos like a beacon of hope. Startled, she turned to see Kazuma, Aqua, Wiz, and Sena rushing to join her side. Relief flooded through her veins at the sight of her companions and allies, but their attention was immediately drawn to the battle unfolding between Darkness and the possessed Yunyun.

"Looks like Darkness is holding her own. Although I doubt this is really her own doing." He said.

In fact, everyone quickly noticed Vanir's mask attached to her face which gave Aqua a look of pure annoyance. "Ugh, it's that annoying demon again."

But Kazuma didn't care as this still felt like an additional help they needed. Now if they could find an opening to toss the item at Yunyun, now it was Aqua's chance for it.

The archpriest stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Yunyun. Despite her distaste for teaming up with someone like Vanir, she knew that this was a moment where personal grudges had to be set aside for the greater good.

With a resolute nod, Aqua charged forward. She focused her energy, summoning the power of her water magic as she prepared to unleash it upon Yunyun.

Yunyun, engrossed in her battle with Darkness, was caught off guard by Aqua's sudden approach. As Aqua raised her staff, a torrent of water began to surge forth, gathering momentum with each passing second.

With a cry of determination, Aqua unleashed her spell, sending a powerful wave of water hurtling towards Yunyun. The force of the spell was overwhelming, crashing into Yunyun with incredible force and enveloping her in its watery embrace.

For a brief moment, Yunyun struggled against the torrent, her motions sluggished under the barrage of Aqua's magic. It was the opening they had been waiting for.

"Sorry for this, Yunyun, but it's for your own good!" Kazuma declared, his voice projecting with a hint of heroism. With a swift motion, he tossed the item towards Yunyun, aiming for the spot where the mask had taken root.

The moment the item made contact with Yunyun's body, she let out a bloodcurdling scream of agony. Her form convulsed with the impact, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed as though she was being immobilized by the powerful magic coursing through her veins.
The group watched on with concern, their breath caught in their throats as they awaited the outcome. Megumin's eyes widened with sorrow, her hands trembling at her sides as she struggled to process all of this.

"Is it working?" Kazuma questioned.

"Nevermind that! She's standing still now! Just steal the mask and let's end this!" Aqua responded with urgercy.

Kazuma nodded in agreement, readying himself to use his 'steal' ability. But before he could make his move, Yunyun let out another ear-splitting scream, her body contorting with pain as her size continued to grow larger and larger.

Wiz gasped in shock, her eyes widening with horror as she realized the gravity of the situation.

"Wait, something is not right! She should be immobilized... but the item seemed to have reacted with the mask somehow... and it's making her even bigger!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm.

Yunyun's form began to tower almost the entire city. Kazuma and Aqua's voices rang out in unison, their words filled with disbelief and despair. "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"

In a fit of anger and desperation, Aqua lunged forward, grabbing Wiz by the hands and shaking her roughly.

"What have you done!? You have doomed us all!" She yelled.

"Lady Aqua, please! I... I didn't know this would happen! I was just trying to help..." Wiz protested while feeling guilty.

Megumin stood frozen as her jaw dropped while looking above at her best friend transform into a colossal figure before her very eyes. Fear, sorrow, and a deep sense of helplessness washed over her. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. The realization that her friend was now a towering behemoth, driven by the malevolent force of the mask not only made her have a sense of grief but the form alone was truly leaving her frightened.

"Yunyun...!" she whispered. Megumin felt an overwhelming sense of loss. A deep ache in her soul for the friend she feared she had lost forever.

Aqua's panicked cry echoed through the tense air as she clutched her hands over her head in sheer terror. "SHE'S GOING TO CRUSH US ALL!!!"

She grabbed onto Kazuma and shook him frantically, her eyes wide with terror.

"We're done for, Kazuma! We're done for!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Kazuma could feel her desperation radiating off her in waves, and he couldn't help but share in her fear.

It was like living in a nightmare. A bizarre and terrifying nightmare from which there was no escape. As panic threatened to consume them, Kazuma's mind raced with possibilities, searching desperately for a way to save them all from the colossal threat bearing down upon them. He was left with the only easy way out.

"Everyone, listen to me! We need to get out of the city, now!" His urgent command snapped everyone to attention, and they turned to him with wide eyes, desperate for a plan.

"Grab that wagon over there! We're going to drive as far away from here as we can." Kazuma continued, pointing toward a nearby vehicle.

Aqua didn't waste time to protest. "That's your plan!? Run away, again!?

"What the hell did you expect!? Fighting off a gigantic Yunyun that can now easily destroy the whole damn town in one strike!? Our best option is to run and drive her as far away as possible! I've noticed before that Yunyun's only focused on Megumin! If we all leave the city, she'll follow us!" Kazuma told her.

It wasn't the heroic plan they had hoped for, but faced with Yunyun's dangerous form, it seemed like the only choice. The group scrambled into the wagon and while doing so, Sena's voice cut through the urgency of their escape.

"You better make sure this works, Kazuma Satou! If we don't make it out of this alive, I want you to know... I've always found you utterly tiresome!" she warned.

Kazuma had to roll his eyes at her comment, replying with a sarcastic tone of his own. "Likewise."

"What was that!?" Sena's reaction was immediate.

"Nothing, nothing! Let's just go!" Kazuma dismissed without a second thought.

With that, they urged the horses forward, the wagon lurching into motion as they raced away from the city as the colossal figure of Yunyun didn't waste time to chase them all down.

Chapter Text

The wheels of the wagon churned up clouds of dust as they thundered across the rugged terrain, the rhythmic clatter of hooves and the creak of wood drowning out the frantic heartbeat of the passengers within.

Yunyun's unwavering pursuit was limitless, her colossal form casting a looming shadow over the desperate escapees. With each passing moment, her magic crackled ominously in the air, a deadly symphony of power poised to shatter their fragile hopes.

The group inside the wagon braced themselves for the onslaught. Spells crackled through the air, aiming to tear apart the vehicle and all who dared to stop her. But with each attempt, the wagon swerved and dodged, narrowly avoiding destruction by the skin of their teeth.

Their hearts raced with every near miss, the threat of annihilation drawing near. Yet still, they pressed on, driven by the desperate hope to outrun Yunyun so that they can then find a way to remove the mask.

Aqua's hands danced with divine energy, channeling her spells with desperate precision.

"Turn Undead!" she cried, unleashing a radiant burst of holy power toward Yunyun's towering form, hoping it could affect the mask. But despite the potency of the spell, the possessed figure continued the chase, unaffected by its divine influence, not even after Aqua attempted the 'Sacred Turn Undead' variation of the move.

The goddess of water growled in frustration. She had to try something else.

"Sacred Exorcism!" she shouted, conjuring a blinding cascade of light in a final attempt to halt Yunyun's advance. The brilliance of the spell illuminated the surrounding landscape, momentarily dazzling their pursuer.

However, as the light faded, it became clear that their efforts had only served to slow Yunyun's pace.

"It's not enough! We need something stronger! Something that can break through that mask's hold!" Kazuma yelled with frustration.

They needed to keep trying as they couldn't possibly let Yunyun catch them. Megumin looked at her friend's collossus figure chasing the group. In her mind's eye, she could still see the timid, shy Yunyun she had grown to scold, bully and yet care for, but the only thing she had up to her sleeve was her explosion spell which might be the solution to Kazuma's suggestion. Yet something kept refraining her from unleashing her favorite deadly spell... and it was the possibility of causing a fatal blow to her friend. After all, this wasn't Darkness with all of her defense boosted to max. Yunyun wouldn't survive against the full brunt of her magic. With a heavy heart, Megumin just couldn't risk Yunyun's life, even if it meant sacrificing their best chance at stopping the mask's rampage.

Wiz found herself grappling with the same moral dilemma that plagued Megumin. She couldn't bear the thought of causing harm to Yunyun, yet she understood the necessity of halting her relentless advance.

With a deep sigh, her expression turned from scared to determined as she steeled herself for what needed to be done. Extending her arm skyward, she summoned the power of the elements, calling forth bolts of lightning to strike Yunyun with a resounding crackle of energy. The attack landed true, eliciting a momentary pause in Yunyun's pursuit as she recoiled from the electrifying assault.

A fleeting sense of relief washed over the group as they celebrated the small victory, but Wiz knew that their respite would be short-lived. With a determined resolve, she refocused her energies, understanding that she must continue to stall Yunyun's charge by any means necessary.

Drawing upon her arcane abilities once more, Wiz cast her potent 'Cursed Crystal Prison' spell, conjuring a shimmering barrier of ice to encase Yunyun in a temporary prison. The crystalline structure formed around Yunyun, its glacial grip holding her in place, albeit momentarily, as Wiz strained to maintain the spell's hold against the mask's formidable power.

The group halted the wagon and watched with bated breath, a sense of cautious optimism began to take hold. Seeing Yunyun ensnared within the crystalline prison offered a glimmer of hope, a brief respite from the relentless pursuit that had gripped them.

Exiting the wagon, the companions gathered around to contemplate on their next move.

"Maybe we've finally managed to stop her." Kazuma said.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still need to remove that mask and destroy it." Aqua reminded him.

Before they could formulate a new strategy, however, their hopes were dashed in an instant. With a deafening crack, the ice barrier shattered into a thousand fragments, the force of Yunyun's enchanted strength rending it asunder.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Yunyun's disorted voice echoed in the whole area, growing even larger now.

A collective sense of dread washed over the companions. With the mask's power amplifying her every move, they knew that their chances of stopping her were dwindling by the moment.

Wiz's usually composed demeanor shattered as she expressed her disbelief.

"None of my tactics worked! How is this possible!? It's like every time I try to do something, I only cause her to become even stronger and more dangerous! Just why!?"

Aqua's irritation boiled over, and she lashed out at Wiz with a snarl of frustration. "Looks like we have a new person who deserves the title of 'useless' more than I kept on receiving from you, Kazuma!" she spat in anger.

"It's not Wiz's fault." Kazuma's annoyance evident in his tone. His attention then turned once more to Yunyun and the artifact.

"One thing for sure is that brute force won't stop the mask. If anything... it's like we're feeding it."

Sena, usually composed and poised, was visibly shocked by the turn of events. "Then what are we gonna do now!?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with desperation.

Vanir, speaking through Darkness, offered a grim assessment of their situation. "Not much me and Darkness can do at this point if what you're saying is correct, boy." he remarked.

"My spell is the only way... but... I just can't..." Megumin's voice wavering with uncertainty as her grip on her staff tightened.

Kazuma, observing Megumin's turmoil, offered her a reassuring smile. He knew how she was feeling right now and it definately wasn't the right moment to tease her about the fact that her concern for Yunyun was evident. Didn't want her to channel her tsundere nature next.

As they contemplated their next move, Kazuma noticed a subtle shift in Yunyun's demeanor. Despite her increased size and power, she seemed disoriented, her focus wavering as if the mask's influence was faltering. Could this be their chance to turn the tide?

Kazuma turned to Aqua with determination etched on his face. "Aqua, give me all the support through your magic! Blessing, Protection, Haste, all of that!"

Aqua's confusion mirrored the rest of the group's as she questioned. "What do you intend to do?"

Kazuma took a moment to compose his thoughts before explaining his plan while pointing at the colussus Yunyun.

"I can sense Yunyun's suffering right at this very moment. As you can see, she's no longer attacking us despite the mask still attached to her face. It only means one thing: the mask has abused all of its power and is losing balance! This is our chance to turn things around!"

Sena, still perplexed, sought clarification. "And what's the plan?"

Taking a deep breath, Kazuma revealed his audacious plan. "I shall climb onto Yunyun and make sure the mask is removed!"

The revelation elicited gasps of shock from Sena, Aqua, and Megumin, their faces flushing with embarrassment.

"There you go again with your pervert tactics!" Megumin didn't waste time to express it.

"Truly, you have no shame." Sena added.

Unfazed by their reactions, Kazuma defended his plan. "There's no other solution! Even if it means risking my life once again!"

Aqua sighed in resignation before nodding. "As expected of you, Kazuma." she remarked, shaking her head. "You and all of your weird ideas. Well, here goes nothing."

With a determined expression, she focused her magic, channeling her blessings to enhance Kazuma's chance of survival.

Once Aqua finished bolstering Kazuma with her enchantments, he felt a surge of power coursing through his veins. Luck, strength, defense, and speed all amplified to maximum.

As he prepared to embark on his risky mission, he turned to the archwizard.

"Hey, Megumin."

Her name being suddenly called out caught her off guard. Curiosity evident in her expression.

"Be ready to cast the explosion spell once the mask is removed." He told her with a smirk.

Megumin's eyes widened in surprise at Kazuma's request. She was blushing before a returned smirk spread across her face.

"...You can bet on it! I'll find the perfect spot, and then the mask is history!" She replied confidently and with enthusiasm before immediately making her away.

Kazuma stepped forth into the open expanse, the sight of the towering Yunyun filled him with both fear and focus. Her slow, menacing stride seemed to echo with each heavy footfall, the struggle to maintain balance evident in her movements. Amidst the eerie silence, Kazuma could hear the low growling emanating from Yunyun, a stark reminder of the suffering inflicted upon her by the mask's malevolent power.

With resolve hardening in his heart, Kazuma began to sprint towards the colossal figure before him. As he closed the distance, his mind focused solely on the task ahead. Reaching one of Yunyun's massive boots, he wasted no time in starting his ascent. Thanks to Aqua's magical enhancements, the climb felt surprisingly effortless, allowing Kazuma to scale Yunyun's colossal form with relative ease.

However, in a moment of distraction, Kazuma found himself momentarily taken aback by the surreal sight of certain... ahem... private areas of Yunyun's anatomy. Suppressing a comical moment of arousal, he quickly pushed the inappropriate thoughts aside and refocused on the task at hand. Finally, as Kazuma reached one side of of Yunyun's head, his attention was drawn to the intricacies of the mask. Each side was secured by a hook, wired into place. Realization dawned upon him: if he could break both of these hooks, then the mask should be removed.

Kazuma leaped towards the hook, his trusty katana, 'Chunchunmaru' drawn and ready, he swung with all his might, aiming to sever the sturdy attachment. However, the hook proved more resilient than anticipated, causing frustration to bubble within him.

"Damn it! What do I do now!? C'mon, Kazuma, think!" He muttered to himself in desperation. With time running short and Yunyun's colossal form bearing down upon him, he knew he needed to act fast.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Kazuma spotted Yunyun's massive arm hurtling towards him with alarming speed. Reacting on pure instinct, he leaped off the precarious perch, reaching desperately for Yunyun's voluminous skirt to break his fall.

In a stroke of unexpected fortune, Yunyun's colossal arm inadvertently struck the very hook Kazuma had been attempting to sever, snapping it cleanly in two. As he clung to the fabric of Yunyun's skirt, the group watching from below realized the significance of the moment.

Aqua's smile lit up her face as she cheered on Kazuma. "Keep it up, Kazuma! A little bit more to remove the mask!" she encouraged.

With one hook successfully severed, the former shut-in-neet wasted no time in repeating the process. Reaching the other side of the mask, Kazuma steadied himself, his focus unwavering. Gripping his katana tightly, he prepared to strike the final blow. With a deep breath, he lunged forward, aiming for the remaining hook with precision.

As the blade met its target, Kazuma felt a surge of anticipation. But just as before, the hook proved resilient, resisting his efforts to sever it.

"Come on, come on!" he urged himself, gritting his teeth in frustration. He hoped for Yunyun's "help" to break it like earlier.

His hopes were answered as predicted, Yunyun's other massive arm was swinging towards him, the force behind it undeniable.

Reacting quickly and despite the impending danger, he braced himself and leaped from Yunyun's massive form, hurtling towards the ground below.

The impact was jarring, sending waves of pain through Kazuma's body as he collided with the earth. Despite the pain, he knew he had succeeded. As he lay on the ground, he glanced up at Yunyun, now free from the mask's influence.

"GRRAAAAAAAH!"

Yunyun's pained voice echoed in a final roar, her gigantic form shrinking back to its original size, collapsing unconscious on the ground. The Mask of the Dark Earth, now enormous, lay motionless a few feet away.

Kazuma's urgent cry pierced the tension-filled air, his voice commanding and resolute. "MEGUMIN, DO IT!!!!"

Megumin's gaze locked onto the mask lying on the ground before her. Her red glowing eyes taking over, fueled by a mixture of fury and resolve. In that moment, her words transformed into poetry, a symphony of vengeance and retribution as her staff glimmered with the deadly spell she was finally about to cast:

"Mask of The Dark Earth, bearer of dread
Thy reign of terror now comes to an end
For every soul ensnared in thy malevolent grasp
For every heart burdened by your clasp
Thy final hour at hand
For I... bearer of explosive might
Shall banish thee from sight!
EXPLOOOOOOOOSION!!!!"

With those final words, Megumin unleashed her explosive magic upon the Mask of the Dark Earth, channeling all her passion and wrath into the spell. The air crackled with energy as a blinding light engulfed the area, followed by a deafening roar as the explosion consumed the mask in a brilliant display of power and destruction.

The aftermath of Megumin's apocalipting spell, left a huge hole on the floor. The mask was finally obliterated.

Megumin's lips curled into a triumphant smile. She felt a surge of pride flowing within her, knowing that she had played a crucial role in saving the day. With a sense of satisfaction, she whispered softly to herself.

"Yunyun...everyone...I saved you..."

She then collapsed like everytime she casted her explosion magic.

Chapter Text

The aftermath of this entire ordeal left the group gathered around Yunyun's unconscious form. Their feelings were mixed with both relief and uncertainty. Kazuma wasted no time in using the 'Drain Touch' magic to Megumin, replenishing her depleted energy after she casted her explosion magic to destroy the Mask of the Dark Earth.

The party gathered around to watch over Yunyun who had still yet to wake up after the suffering she endured from the mask. They deliberated over what they should disclose to her about the events that transpired. Should they reveal the truth about the malevolent mask that had possessed her, or should they shield her from the harsh reality and concoct a more palatable explanation?

Megumin, still recovering from her exertion, was the first to voice her opinion.

"She's been through enough already. And for the most part, it was my fault. Yeah I know I hate it so much to admit it but... this is that one rare case where I just can't let my pride take over. Let's just tell her she got hit hard and we were protecting her or something like that." She argued in favor of withholding the full extent of the truth from Yunyun. She believed that sparing Yunyun from the grim reality would be kinder and less likely to cause her distress.

Aqua, always prone to impulsive reactions, was quick to agree with Megumin's proposal. "We can't risk traumatizing her further. It's better to keep her away from a possible incurable burden."

Sena instead offered a more measured perspective.

"While I understand the inclination to keep the girl from knowing the harsh reality, we cannot disregard the potential consequences of withholding the truth. It's imperative that we approach this situation with transparency and honesty. However, We can offer her the solace of knowing she won't face any repercussions. She'll receive an instant pardon once the truth is revealed. After all... it wasn't her fault, but the insidious influence of the mask that led to these events." Sena explained.

Kazuma protested in annoyance, knowing Yunyun's low self esteem, since it was expected of her to prefer this approach given her status as a prosecutor. His sarcasm earned a creepy glare from Sena which made Kazuma comically sweat in anxiety.

Wiz's gaze at Yunyun was full of sorrow and empathy as she chimed in softly. "I don't know... maybe it's best to tell her the truth, but gently. We can offer her our support and assure her that she's not alone."

Vanir on the other hand was indifferent with both decisions as he began to speak through Darkness.

"Consider this, you choose to lie to her and then her eventual discovery of what really happened will lead to feelings of betrayal and resentment for you all. Exacerbating her sense of brokenness. Alternatively, you tell her the truth and she may indeed be overwhelmed by guilt and regret, potentially even forsaking her cherished dream of forming meaningful connections, fearing that now people will avoid her more than ever before. So whatever you do, there won't be a happy ending for her." He said.

Megumin just couldn't stop glancing at Yunyun's unconscious body. She reflected on Vanir's lose-lose analysis and as it pained her to admit it... he had a point. She didn't know which option to pick now.

Kazuma, though initially hesitant to endorse deception, ultimately conceded that Megumin's early suggestion might be the most prudent course of action. "Alright, we'll stick to the story that she got injured and we were protecting her."

Wiz was worried while Sena didn't waste time to disagree.

"Objection, Kazuma Satou. This will not be a good idea. I agree with what that..."

She paused while looking at Vanir's mask attached to Darkness's face before glancing back at Kazuma.

"...thing said. If we lie to the girl, she will still know everything later on once she sees the ruins in town. She'll know for sure that something happened."

But Kazuma had his confident smirk as he countered.

"Hold it. Knowing Yunyun, it's easy to just be like 'A malevolent demon was threatening us all and she got hurt, but we saved her as her friends'. She'll calm down in a second. Just trust me on that."

Everyone was instantly skeptical of his claim as they all glanced at eachother with narrowed eyes and raised eyebrows. The group then settled into an uneasy silence while waiting for the poor lonely crimson demon girl to wake up. They could only hope that their carefully crafted facade would provide her with the solace and comfort she needed to heal.

Yunyun finally began to stir as her friends watched with bated breath, unsure of how she would react upon regaining consciousness. Megumin, attempting to divert attention away from the truth of their recent ordeal, put on a facade of competitiveness, hoping to distract Yunyun from the reality of the situation.

"Finally awake, Yunyun? Took you long enough. Guess you needed some beauty sleep after embarrassing yourself again." Megumin quipped, trying to sound nonchalant.

Yunyun's brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to make sense of her surroundings.

"Megumin? What's going on? Why am I...?"

But before she could finish her sentence, Yunyun's gaze fell upon Kazuma, Aqua, and the others, her confusion deepening. "What's happening? Why are we all here?"

Quickly attempting to steer the conversation away from the truth, Megumin seized the opportunity to throw another taunt, hoping to maintain the facade.

"You know, Yunyun, I always hoped you would learn your lesson. But seeing you lying there, helpless... I guess you haven't improved one bit."

But this time not even this was enough to make Yunyun act the way she always did whenever Megumin would provoke her and make her focus on their supposed rivalry. Yunyun was just too confused, her eyes darting between her friends.

"I... I don't understand. Why are we out of town? Why do you all look so worri- ah...!" She was cut off as her hand pressed against her throbbing forehead. She still felt so stunned after what the mask did to her.

While wincing in pain from the headache she was feeling, Kazuma and the others were making silent gestures with comical faces about what they should say next. But everything got interrupted as Yunyun's attention was elsewhere.

"Wait, what happened to that mask?" and this sudden question made Kazuma and the rest of the party froze.

"There was this strange flying mask... it was moving so quickly, and then everything went dark... Did something bad happen?" she asked with concern.

Megumin knew she couldn't try to 'bicker' with her now. Her head slowly and trembling turned to Kazuma to symbolize that Yunyun's memories might hold the key to understanding the true nature of what transpired. They didn't know what to do.
Sena was the only one who didn't act shocked and made a gesture with her head as a way of telling Kazuma to just tell Yunyun the truth.

To make matters worse, Yunyun's eyes fell upon the massive crater in the ground, her shock was palpable. "Megumin, did you... did you cast the explosion spell?"

Megumin's heart raced as she struggled to find the right words on how to protect Yunyun from the truth. Before she could respond, Yunyun's expression turned from shock to fear, her voice trembling with realization.

"It was that mask, right? It was causing all the trouble... it hurt everyone, didn't it?" she said.
The group gave eachother uneasy glances which didn't help the case in trying to formulate a response drowned out by Yunyun's growing apprehension. Kazuma felt the weight of their silence bearing down on him, the urge to confess threatening to overwhelm him.
But once again, Yunyun cut everyone off as she seemed to realize everything.

"I get it now... the mask was trying to consume me...!" she put her hands on her mouth in fear upon saying this.

Everyone felt like it was hopeless. Yunyun understood everything... or maybe not.

"But you saved me, Megumin... correct?" she said to her self-proclaimed rival with a sudden joy.

Megumin's cheeks flushed slightly at the unexpected gratitude. She could then see Yunyun's eyes closing with a smile. "Thank you."

A flicker of relief washed over the archwizard. Megumin thought this was her chance. Summoning her resolve, she rose to her feet, masking her emotions to resume the facade of competitiveness.

"Hahaha, thank me? Why would you do that? You need to be more careful next time, Yunyun! Otherwise, you'll always have to keep relying on me to clean up your messes!"

Yunyun's response was immediate, her own competitive spirit reigniting as she stood up to Megumin.

"Why are you lying!? I was always the one keeping an eye on you, Megumin! Especially with your obsession with that ridiculous explosion magic!" she retorted while pointing her index finger on her in an accusing manner.

Megumin's eyes sparked with mock anger, a playful grin spreading across her face. While she'd always feel offended and angry whenever someone mocked her awesome explosion spell, this time it was a mix of that and genuine happiness. For the fact that despite the horrific moment the mask has caused, they were still able to happily rekindle their relationship.

"What did you say!?" she exclaimed, her voice comically raised.

And just like that, the tension of the moment evaporated into a comical and playful banter as the two Crimson Demon girls fell into the familiar rhythm of their friendly yet intense rivalry. Kazuma couldn't help but smile, a sense of relief overtook him. In that moment, he knew that Yunyun would be spared the burden of the truth, allowing her to move forward without the weight of the incident breaking her down. Aqua and Wiz felt the same way, while Sena still had her doubts but decided to play along either way.

Three days later, Sena was involved in a trial that was charging Mitsurugi Kyouya for of the heinous crimes of murder and destruction in Axel town. Witness after witness took the stand, recounting the events that led to Kyouya's arrest. However, it became evident that Kyouya was not during the circumstances in question. Many testified to witnessing him under the influence of a mysterious mask, his actions driven by an unseen force. Furthermore, several of the supposed victims, who had been resurrected by the divine power of Aqua, attested to Kyouya's innocence, claiming that he was not truly responsible for their deaths.

As the trial progressed, it became increasingly clear that Kyouya was merely a pawn in a larger scheme orchestrated by the Mask of the Dark Earth when it latched to his face. With overwhelming evidence supporting his innocence as well as the magical lie-detector not ringing, the judge had no choice but to dismiss the case, finding Kyouya not guilty.

The courtroom erupted into cheers and applause as Kyouya was acquitted of all charges. The girls, who had always harbored their admiration for him, rushed forward to hug and congratulate him.

Meanwhile, Kazuma and his party observed the proceedings while trying to be confident that eveything was going just fine. Yunyun, who had also attended the trial, expressed her concern for their well-being, acknowledging the trauma they had endured in facing the possessed victims of the mask.

"Is everything alright? I can't imagine what you went through while facing that mask."
While they valued her concern, they tactfully refrained from addressing her own role in the situation just as they decided.

Aqua whispered to Kazuma in the ear, worrying about the possibility of Yunyun facing trial for her own unwitting involvement.

"What if they all suspect Yunyun's involvement and try to forcefully put her on trial? Worse, what if she had to say her version of things before that lie-detector thing rings and she realizes that we-"

"Don't worry, I've already talked to Sena. She assured me Yunyun won't face any accusations." Kazuma interrupts her in hushed tones.

"But what if someone lets slip about Yunyun's connection to all this?" Darkness joined Aqua and Kazuma in their whispered conversation.

As she expressed her concern about the possibility of Yunyun learning the truth from some people talking about what happened, their discussion was abruptly interrupted by the curious inquiry of Yunyun herself.

"What are you guys saying? It's ever since I woke up after I was on the ground the other day that you're acting weird. You sure you're ok?"

Caught off guard, the trio scrambled to come up with a plausible response, their minds racing to devise a suitable explanation.

Before they could formulate a coherent answer, however, they were rescued by the timely intervention of Megumin. With practiced arrogance, she skillfully diverted Yunyun's attention.

"Oh, we were just discussing our plans for the next quests. You know, to earn some extra money to cover the damages we accidentally made while you were busy being a damsel in distress."

Megumin's words carried a hint of harshness, causing Yunyun to feel a pang of guilt at the thought that their efforts to shield her had resulted in such extensive damage.

"I'm so sorry for all the trouble I've caused you all. Maybe I could join you on your quests to make it up to you?" she bowed as a sign of apology.

However, Megumin kept taunting Yunyun.

"Ha! The last thing we need is your help! After all, we're professionals!"

"Huh!? What are you saying!? How are you a professional with all the mess you always cause with your silly spell!?"

This exchange quickly reignited their typical banter between the two.

With Aqua and Darkness trying to calm the two down, Kazuma reflected on the recent events as a soft smile graced his lips. He began to speak in his mind, addressing himself and contemplating the tale that had unfolded.

"And that folks, was the story of how we embarked on what seemed like a simple quest such as destroying a mask. Yet, as fate would have it, it spiraled into a global threat, burdening us with even more debts. Not gonna lie, though, It is very surprising that I managed to come out of this without dying."

He paused a little before resuming as he leaned against a tree with arms folded.

"Facing the colossal Yunyun was no joke and I'll definitely see that again in my nightmares...at least it won't be as traumatic as...oh...Sylvia. The memory of that encounter lingers a constant reminder of the crap we keep on getting ourselves into. And yet, despite our efforts to shield her, the truth will eventually come to light. It's only a matter of time before Yunyun learns of her unwitting role in the whole thing."

Turning his attention to the present, Kazuma's expression softened with understanding as he went towards the group, by making his decision to let Yunyun join them.

"That's why I agreed to let Yunyun join our party for this occasion. We owe it to her to repay the debts incurred by the destruction she unwittingly caused. With time she won't freak out too much once the truth is revealed... hopefully. I mean... if we just tell her that we saved her as her friends, I'm sure she won't be mad. And while she may not be the typical companion we're accustomed to, her magic prowess is undeniable. With her by our side, I have no doubt we'll breeze out of this one."

With a resolute nod, Kazuma reaffirmed his commitment to their shared journey.

"So, let us suffer once again by going through more dangerous quests and risking our lives once more. Hoping that Yunyun will help in making things easier."

And with that Kazuma turned his gaze towards his companions. With the decision being made, Aqua and Darkness smile at Yunyun as their gesture that they wholeheartedly welcome her as this temporary new addition. This kind of made Megumin jealous but deep down she was happy as well. She decided to put on a show, pretending to be reluctant at the decision and once again making harsh comments about Yunyun, earning protests from the latter.

The party made their way to the Adventurer Guild in search of other quests and while Kazuma knew it would be a pain like always, he was just too confident that it wouldn't be as tiresome as usual with Yunyun joining.